Intra-arterial chemotherapy for patients with inoperable carcinoma of the pancreas.

Percutaneous intra-arterial chemotherapy followed by intravenous maintenance therapy has been given to a highly selected group of 63 patients with inoperable carcinoma of the pancreas in most of whom the predominant symptom was pain. Relief of pain was an immediate response in 55%, with a slow recurrence of symptoms. Low toxicity was observed, with only one death attributable to the form of therapy used.